Welcome to Winter Session residence

We are so excited that you are going to be living in residence! Make the most of your time by following this winter session residence guide to get set up.

Pre-arrival checklist

Here are some to-dos before moving into residence.

First things first—did you accept your offer? Residence offers are sent by email and you will want to make sure you accept your offer and pay your first instalment of residence fees and meal plan fees (if applicable) by the deadline.
Are you a first year student? Register for Jump Start! Jump Start gives you the opportunity to get to know campus and meet new friends before classes start.

Make the most of life at UBC

Check out these 10 tips for making the most of living in residence.

Apply for a UBCcard if you don’t have one. The option to have your UBCcard delivered to residence typically opens in mid-July. Please check the applicable box in your UBCcard application.
Buy or order bed and bath linens for on-time delivery to residence before Move In Day and check out what to bring and what not to bring when you move in.
Get renter’s insurance to protect your belongings.
Review important Residence Standards—including your residence contract—and become familiar with your rights and responsibilities as a resident within the residence community.
As part of your student fees, you get a U-Pass, which gives you unlimited access to transit in the Lower Mainland. If you still need parking, limited spaces are available so remember to apply for a residence parking space.
Check out the important dates and fees pages for other key deadlines.
We know it seems like a long way away, but we recommend you begin thinking about where you are going to live after this year. Check out our guides to other housing options at UBC and living off-campus—and don’t forget to apply for residence as a returning student.
Don’t forget to follow us on social! UBCResidence, UBCFoodie, UBCLife, UBCBookstore and UBC_Living are your go-to accounts for event info, residence life, contests and more.

UBC Residence Life email archive

Students moving into first year residence receive weekly emails from July to September. Looking for one of our older new to residence emails? No problem! Have a read through the archive below.

Summer 2025 emails

July 10, 2025 | Welcome to UBC Residence!
July 17, 2025 | Move In preparation & meal plans
July 24, 2025 | The three cards you’ll need at UBC
July 31, 2025 | An email for your parent, guardian or chosen family
August 6, 2025 | Residences and roommates
August 13, 2025 | Pre-arrival checklists, roommates and campus transit

Getting to know your residence

Living in residence is a unique experience. You may be excited and even nervous at the same time—but don’t worry, we are here to help support you as you settle in.

Get ready to move in

Moving into residence takes preparation. Find out what to pack and do to ensure a smooth move in experience for you and your new peers.

Health and wellness

Learn about the health and wellness services available for residents, including both physical and mental health services.

Services and amenities

Learn about the services available in residence including access to internet, laundry, maintenance support, transit and parking, mail, sustainability features and more.

Dining options

Check out food options including the Residence Meal Plan and access our nutritionist who is available to answer questions about allergies, food preferences, dietary restrictions and more.

Residence life blog

There are so many things to know and learn! Have a read through our blog for tips, resources and advice.

Meet the team

Get an idea of some of the people you can approach with questions, concerns or a request for support.

Residence programs

Residence Life offers a ton of programming every term including free workshops, fitness classes, access to a Prof in Residence and more.

Safety and security

Find out about residence safety strategies, staying safe on campus after dark, emergency contacts, additional safety services, resources and more.

Indigenous residence names

Learn more about the Indigenous house names at Totem Park and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) names at tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ.

Virtual tours

Take a virtual tour of our first-year residence commonsblocks.

Orchard CommonsPlace VanierTotem Park

Take the full tour of Orchard Commons, Place Vanier, Totem Park—including rooms, lounges, laundry, music rooms and more.

More virtual tours

Resources for parents, guardians and families

Share these resources with your parents, guardians or supporting family members.

Parent, guardian and family resource guide

Information and resources for parents, guardians and families of students living in residence at UBC.

Visitor accommodation

Have someone visiting from out of town? UBC Conferences and Accommodation offers on-campus hotel accommodation.

Other resources

UBC has a ton of additional resources available for students. Check out some of them below.

Getting Started

Winter Session Residence Guide